Koh Ker
| Koh Ker | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Ancient Lingapura or Chok Gargyar |
| Site type | Archaeological site |
| Country | Cambodia |
| Period | Capital of the Khmer Empire between 921 and 944 CE |
| Subjects | Religion & Spiritual Life; History & Remembrance |
Koh Ker is an archaeological site in Cambodia. (UNESCO World Heritage Centre)
History
Koh Ker was established by King Jayavarman IV in 921 CE and was one of two rival capitals of the Khmer Empire that co-existed between 921 and 928 CE, the other being Angkor. It was the sole capital until 944 CE, after which the Empire’s political centre moved back to Angkor. The sacred city was constructed in a single phase over a twenty-three-year period. (UNESCO World Heritage Centre)
Significance
Koh Ker exhibits the Koh Ker Style, a sculptural expression featuring bold, expressive imagery and a dynamic sense of movement that resulted from the fusion of Indian religious and artistic symbolism with local design concepts and artistic craftsmanship. Its unconventional urban planning and architectural features, including grand-scale buildings and colossal monolithic stone blocks, inaugurated a centuries-long phase of stone temple construction across the Khmer Empire. The Koh Ker Style had an enduring influence on the artistic expression of the subsequent period of the Khmer Empire and other Southeast Asian countries. (UNESCO World Heritage Centre)
Stewardship
The National Authority for Preah Vihear (NAPV) is the dedicated governmental authority that oversees policy formulation and implementation for the protection and conservation of the property, and for combating illegal destruction, alteration, excavation, alienation or exportation of cultural objects at both Preah Vihear and Koh Ker. Koh Ker is protected by the Law on the Protection of Cultural Heritage (1996), and the Royal Decree on the Establishment of Koh Ker Temple Site, NS/RKT/0504/070, of 2004, as amended in 2020, defines the boundaries of the property, the buffer zone, and the satellite zone beyond the buffer zone. The International Coordinating Committee for Preah Vihear advises and monitors all NAPV activities. (UNESCO World Heritage Centre)